Breast supporter



May 19, 1936. p HOWARD 2,041,066

BREAST SUPPORTER Filed May 13, 1935 Patented May 19, 1936 PATENT OFFICE BREAST SUPPOBTEB Priscilla Howard, Alameda, Calif.

Application May 13, 1935, Serial No. 21,082

3 Claims.

This invention relates to means for supporting women's breasts when inclined to sag or for large pendulous breasts, and the object of the invention is to provide improvements in such devices whereby a simple, light, effective, and sanitary device may be produced. Other advantages of the invention will appear in the following description and accompanying drawing.

In the drawing Fig. 1 is a front elevation of one for use of a woman with medium size breasts.

Fig. 2 is a cross section of the device of Fig. l as seen from the line 2--2 thereof.

1 Fig. 3 is a plan view of the device of Fig. 1.

appear when deformed by drawing snugly against the body under a breast.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of portion of a womans figure showing my improved supporter in position within the pocket of a conventional type of brassiere.

Fig. 6 is a perspective sketch of a conventional type of brassiere with pockets and within which pockets my improved supporters are positioned.

Briefly described, my improved supporters consist of a somewhat canoe-shaped solid block of sponge rubber covered with suitable washable cloth and with a layer of soft pile cloth such as velvet, on top, and which device is adapted to be inserted into each pocket of the pocket-type brassire so as to come in position directly under each breast and support the same upon its upper substantially flat surface.

In the drawing the supporter is generally designated A, while I is the sponge rubber block out to the desired form, 2 is the cloth covering over it sewed along the edges 3 to an upper layer of velvet 4 or other soft cloth.

The device as shown in front elevation in Fig. l is what may be called of crescent form; in Fig. 3, the plan view, it is seen to be lenticular in outline, and in Fig. 2 to have somewhat the shape of a round bottom canoe. The form is very important, for when placed into the pocket of a 4 brassiere and drawn snugly against the body of the wearer by the usual waist strap the lenticular plan outline of the device is deformed as shown in Fig. 4 wherein the upper wall of the device is designated 4' and the inner previously convex side is forced to a straight or slightly convex form where it is against the body X of the wearer and thus effectually prevents the breast supported above it from slipping or working down between it and the body to become pinched or chafed, due 55 to movement of the body as in stooping, etc.

of my improved breast supporters shown full size Fig. 4 is a plan view of the device as it would In Fig. 6 a brassiere of the pocket type is shown at 5 and with the pockets dotted at 6 and with my canoe-shaped supporters A in place therein, while in Fig. 5 the brassiere is shown in position on the wearer with shoulder straps 'l in place and waist strap 8 indicated, while the inner wall of the pocket is shown at 9 extending part way up in back of the supporter A in place within it.

The pocket type of brassiere is, of course, normally to receive the breasts within the pockets and are the cause of considerable irritation and chafing as well as permitting the breasts to sag or wedge themselves into the lower part of the pockets with great discomfort to the wearer, whereas with my special crescent or canoe-shaped light sponge rubber blocks dropped into place and drawn snugly against the body as explained, the breasts are supported naturally as shown in Fig. 5 without danger of displacement and with complete protection against irritation or chafing, under any movement of the body.

The devices being loose within the pockets of the brassiere, they may be picked out for washing by repeated rinsing in hot water and squeezing to remove the excess water and drying without impairment of the device or its resiliency, and is in every way a most practical device as proven by the many which I have made and supplied to various types of women heretofore forced to go without the firm though yielding support and comfort which this device produces, and while I am thoroughly familiar with the various supporting devices heretofore on the market, I feel that my improvement is novel and of great value in this art.

The pocket type of brassires with which my improved breast supporters are adapted to be used, are a standard article obtainable in various sizes and forms, and are made of various kinds of open work fabric, mesh, or lace-like materials, as well as of cloth and webbing, and the pocket herein referred to is that formed by the breast-receiving or covering portion of the brassiere where it is provided with the flange or rim 9 which surrounds the lower half of the breastreceiving portions, though in the absence of theflange 9 my supporter may be buttoned or lightly stitched at its ends to the brassiere or other undergarment in the correct position to function as described.

I therefore claim:

1. An under support for pendulous female breasts which comprises a block of sponge rubber I in front and substan tially triangular in crossjsection, said block having its upper'surtace, ttansverselypflat and longitudinalLv concave. j

2. An under support (or penduious iemale breasts which comprises a block 0! spmge rubber crescentshaped iniront elevation and substantially triangular in cross section, said block having its,

upper surface transversely flat and longitudinally concave, saidupper' surface having side edges of arcuate form and bowed away from each other, saldside'edgesmeetingattheirends toiorm substantially sharp points.

breastswhichcomprisuabostlhlpedblockot spongerubberhavinganuppertacsarcuatelmgitudinauytotormnlsedendsandadepresed central portion, said upper iacebelng flat transsupport for pendulous female 

